Payton Jordan Invite features BYU top-10 finishes

STANFORD, Calif. – No. 6/11 BYU track and field had multiple distance athletes earn personal records and BYU top-10 all-time finishes at the Payton Jordan Invitational on Thursday.

“It was another outstanding night of action for our athletes," BYU head coach Ed Eyestone said. "We saw some great events highlighted by performances in the men’s 5000m, 10,000m and steeplechase. The women's side had an outstanding night as well. The vast majority got PRs, improved their regional marks and set themselves up well for a good regional meet coming up."

All-Americans Connor McMillan and Rory Linkletter made their season debut in the 10,000m with hopes to earn regional-qualifying times. McMillan clocked 28:11.30 to finish ninth overall. Linkletter followed with a personal-best time of 28:12.42 to take 10th and claim the No. 5 spot on the BYU all-time record board. The Cougars’ leading performance contributed to BYU’s rankings as 1-4 in the NCAA for the 10,000m.

"Connor McMillan and Rory Linkletter ended up with the first and second-fastest times in the nation for college athletes," Eyestone said. "They were running in a professional race but beat any other college athletes that were there."

For their season debut in the 5000m, All-Americans Conner Mantz and Clayton Young ran personal-best times of 13:29.73 and 13:31.79, respectively for the No. 2 and No. 3 all-time in BYU history. The athlete’s marks passed head coach Ed Eyestone on the list.

All-American Clayson Shumway placed first in his heat of the men’s 3000m steeplechase with a time of 8:39.74. Kenneth Rooks finished seventh in the heat with a time of 8:47.15. In the second heat of the men’s 3000m steeplechase, All-American Matt Owens clocked a career-best 8:32.59 for the third-fastest time in BYU history in the event.

On the women’s side in the 3000m steeplechase, Maddie Cannon ran a career-best 10:06.17 and Emma Gee followed right behind with a personal-best time of 10:06.96.

The women’s 1500m, Erica Birk-Jarvis placed fifth in her heat with a time of 4:13.77 and ran within .2 of her personal best. Olivia Hoj ran a career-best 4:19.48, Kate Hunter earned a personal record clocking 4:19.90 and Madey Dickson ran a season-best time of 4:26.27.

On the men’s side in the 1500m, Talem Franco finished first and Marcus Dickson took fourth in their heat with times of 3:46.09 and 3:47.08, respectively.

All-American Whittni Orton clocked a 2:05.97 for a new personal record in the 800m. The BYU women’s team currently has the top-ranked 800m squad in the NCAA.

Along with the performances at the Payton Jordan Invitational, a squad of throwers and sprinters competed at the Weber State Twilight, May 1-2. In the men's 200m, Ramarco Thompson matched his career-best time of 21.18 to take first and Andrew Stuart finished second (21.77).

The Cougars will compete again at home May 9-10 at the BYU Last Chance Meet. Information can be found on the BYU track and field team schedule page two days prior to the meet.